Chapter 49 Straight-up Threat
Katniss whipped around to face Michael, who was acting all chill like he just dropped a casual comment.
But nah, it was a straight-up threat.
Michael flashed a grin and said, "With Bella helping you out now, you'll have more time to teach Matilda. Fewer screw-ups mean fewer punishments, right?"
He checked his watch, raised an eyebrow, and added, "But even though you clocked out early today, she probably won't have time to learn from you. She's out at some bar in the south of the city with Samuel, talking business. Won't be back till late."
"Mr. Astor, take your issues with me, not Matilda.," Katniss snapped. "She's got nothing to do with this."
The elevator doors opened, but neither of them moved. Michael adjusted his tie, then chuckled, "Why would you say that? I'll look after Matilda for you, but Samuel's a tough cookie."
Katniss thought sarcastically, 'Samuel's your assistant, and you can't manage her?? What a joke!'
She smirked and said, "Well, then I guess I owe you a big thank you."
She and Samuel Bennett were college rivals, always neck and neck in their studies. After graduation, they lost touch but both made names for themselves in the industry.
Ignoring Michael, she turned and left. As soon as she got in the car, she called Matilda. After a few rings, Matilda picked up.
"Katniss," Matilda slurred, "it's so late, have you had breakfast?"
Katniss frowned at the time; it was just past five. The dinner party shouldn't have started yet, but Matilda was already wasted.
"Send me your location. I'm coming to get you," Katniss asked.
A hiccup came through, and she could hear the noisy background before the call cut off.
Katniss stared at the disconnected call, took a deep breath, and was about to call again when Matilda sent her location via Facebook.
She fired up the engine and headed south. An hour later, it was pitch dark, and she pulled up in front of the bar.
The neon lights made her bare face look out of place.
She'd been here twice before with Tristan; different business partners had their own hangouts.
And the ones who picked this spot? Usually bad news.
Walking into the first-floor lobby, she was hit by deafening music and chaotic lights, with scantily clad women dancing wildly.
Katniss scanned the crowd and then headed to the front desk to ask about Samuel's reservation.
"Sorry, no reservation under Mr. Samuel's name," the receptionist said apologetically, "You might want to call him directly."
Just before hitting the bar, Katniss tried calling Matilda again, but nada.
She tied up her loose hair and strolled into the bar, phone in hand, peeking into each private room through the little windows.
When she got to the third floor, she spotted Samuel at the end of the hallway, messing with his phone.
He heard the elevator doors open and glanced over. Seeing Katniss, he quickly pocketed his phone, eyes darting around.
Katniss stepped out of the elevator and marched up to him. "Which room is Matilda in?"
As she got closer, she noticed Samuel didn't reek of booze or smoke, meaning he hadn't been in the room, leaving Matilda to handle the schmoozing solo.
Samuel dodged her question and said, "She's working on a contract that decides if she stays with the Astor Corporation."
"Tell me, which room is she in?" Katniss asked again, getting impatient.
Raising an eyebrow, Samuel kept dodging. "You're still as stubborn as ever. Going against the Astor family won't do you any good," he warned.
"I don't need your advice. Last time, which room is Matilda in?" Katniss was done playing.
Samuel paused for a few seconds before saying, "Room 308."
Katniss glanced at the nearest private room and started searching the third floor, finally landing at Room 308.
She pushed the door open, and the stench of alcohol and smoke hit her. Matilda was on the couch, clutching a microphone, cheeks flushed.
Hearing the door, she looked over at Matilda, but her eyes were glazed, not recognizing her.
"Katniss?" The guy negotiating with Matilda was a big shot named Donovan Murphy. He'd met Katniss a few times and recognized her right away.
Katniss didn't remember Donovan, but since he knew her, it made things easier.
"Hey, looks like you've had enough to drink. Did you sign the contract?" She cut to the chase.
Donovan hesitated before saying, "This deal is with the Astor Corporation."
"I know," Katniss said, pointing to Matilda. "She's my sister. She's young and can't handle much booze. You can see she's had enough. If you're cool with it, sign the contract now, and I'll take her home."
Donovan looked surprised, glancing between Matilda and Katniss. He had some shady plans for the night, but they vanished now.
"Of course, her effort is more than enough. She hasn't actually drunk much; she just can't hold her liquor," Donovan said, grabbing the contract from the couch and signing it in front of Katniss.
Katniss took the contract and helped Matilda out of the bar.
At the bar entrance, Samuel trailed behind them, silently watching Katniss help Matilda out. A few times, he reached out to assist but pulled back each time.
After getting Matilda into the car, Katniss shut the door and turned to see Samuel standing there. She took a deep breath and said, "Remember that favor you owe me from school?"
"I remember," Samuel replied.
Katniss pointed to the drunken Matilda in the car and said, "Even if you can't shield her from work stuff, at least look out for her when it counts."
Setting Matilda up for this meeting was Michael's doing. Repaying the favor would mean crossing Michael, and that made Samuel frown.
"I'm not asking you to openly defend her, but at least give me a heads-up," Katniss knew he valued his job too much to betray Michael for a favor.
Especially since they had been rivals in college.
Hearing Katniss' words, Samuel's worries eased. He nodded, "Okay."
Katniss got in the car and drove off. Samuel watched her car fade into the distance, took a deep breath, and then noticed Michael's car parked nearby.
He quickly walked over. "Mr. Astor."
"How did it go?" Michael asked, leaning against his car. The bar's colorful lights made him look even more devilishly handsome.
Samuel nodded, "The contract's signed. The other party backed off when they saw Katniss."
Michael's eyes turned cold, "Katniss really is Tristan's protégé, handling things so smoothly. But it's fine, this was just a warning for her."
He then looked at Samuel and asked, "What did she say to you?"
"Nothing," Samuel shook his head, keeping a straight face.
Michael frowned slightly, then asked, "Are you seeing anyone?"
Samuel shook his head again.
"What do you think of Katniss?" Michael teased with a smirk.
"Not interested," Samuel said firmly after a pause, remembering the marriage certificate he had seen in Katniss's bag at graduation.
"Alright, you can go now," Michael's face darkened as he got back into his car.
The car's exhaust blew in Samuel's face. He didn't relax until Michael's car was out of sight.
After a while, he rubbed his temples and muttered, "I really need to stay away from Katniss."
Katniss took Matilda back to Oakwood Hills. The drunken Matilda was pretty docile, lying still on the bed.
Katniss grabbed a towel to dry her off, then went upstairs to get a clean blanket to cover her.
After finishing up, she remembered to send a message to Tristan.
Katniss: [Matilda drank too much at a social event and is at my place.]
After sending the message, Katniss crashed immediately.
Tristan's night wasn't going any smoother. Bella's screw-up had derailed the meeting, and it was already past ten by the time he wrapped things up.
He shut his laptop, grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair, and said to Bella, "I'll drive you home."
But Bella stopped him, "I'm starving. It's so late. Let's grab dinner before heading home. Can we go to your place?"
"If you're hungry, I'll take you to eat..."
Before Tristan could finish, his phone on the table chimed, and the screen lit up.
It was a Facebook message from Katniss. Before Bella could see the content, Tristan's hand covered the screen.
He glanced at the message and pocketed his phone, saying, "I'll grab some food and take you home."
Bella didn't catch the full message, but she saw something about "my place."
Katniss must've done it on purpose, trying to lure Tristan to her place!
Bella was burning with jealousy, watching Tristan's cold figure walking ahead. She gritted her teeth.
'Tristan must still be pissed at me, trying to mess with me using Katniss!' Bella thought.
She wouldn't let Katniss get the upper hand, not for a second!
When she got out of Tristan's car, Bella's face was pale. As Tristan's car drove away, she turned to see Michael walking over and immediately burst into tears.
She ran to Michael, hugging him and crying.
Matilda woke up earlier than Katniss and got up to make breakfast.
When Katniss came downstairs, Matilda had even packed a lunchbox for her.
"It's not good to always eat out. Since I had the chance, I made this for you," Matilda said with a smile as she cleaned up the kitchen.
Katniss held a brand-new work uniform in her hand and said, "I bought this recently and haven't worn it yet. Take a shower and change into it before going to work."
"Okay!" Matilda quickly finished cleaning the kitchen, grabbed the clothes, and went to freshen up. Fifteen minutes later, she came out, tugging at the waistband. "Katniss, you're too skinny. These are a bit tight on me."
Katniss could only say, "Make do with it."
Matilda pulled out a chair and sat down to eat. The quiet dining room was filled only with the sounds of them eating.
Katniss finished first and looked seriously at Matilda. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"
Matilda paused, glanced at Katniss, and said, "Katniss, don't overthink it. It's common to drink too much at work events."
"Do you know how you got to my place?" Katniss asked.
Matilda blinked and said, "Didn't the waiter call you to pick me up?"
She knew she couldn't dodge last night's situation, so she had given Katniss's number to the waiter in advance, asking them to notify Katniss if she got too drunk.
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